HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — After burning for nearly four days, the Deer Park pipeline fire was extinguished Thursday around 6:30 pm. By Friday morning, crews were already repairing the pipeline and neighboring electrical infrastructure.
Officials in La Porte announced several lanes of the nearby Spencer Highway would also reopen Friday.
The fire ignited Monday after a vehicle drove into an above-ground pipeline valve, triggering an explosion. Human remains were found in a white SUV at the scene of the fire Thursday.
A criminal investigation is underway as authorities work to find the identity of the person whose remains were found.
On Friday, some residents who live near the pipeline returned home for the first time. For many, there are still questions as to who will process insurance claims for home damage and vehicle damage.
There have also been concerns raised about potential air pollution after pipeline owner Energy Transfer filed a report with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The report detailed the several hundred thousand pounds of chemical contaminants released just 10 hours into the blaze.
Dr. Inyang Uwak, with Air Alliance Houston, said certain contaminants like nitrous oxide and volatile organic compounds (VOC) were of some concern. However, she explained more data would be needed to determine the risk.
“It’s only 10 hours of data, you know we would like to have more,” she said. “It will be a thing of concern until we have substantive data that shows there’s really nothing to be worried about, we’re not seeing any hazardous compounds."
Officials with Harris County Pollution Control Services told KHOU 11 Friday that their current monitoring isn’t showing any readings of concern.